Hugh Butler
@hughbutler35.bsky.social
Author. Science. Innovation. Books include The TakeOut Diet, The Optimistic Storm Part 1: the end of the fossil fuel era.
Battery improvements are in the media daily.
Better phones. Longer range cars. Electric trucks.
For over a decade, we knew silicon could enhance battery capacity.
* Theoretical specific capacity is nearly ten times higher than that of the currently dominant graphite anode.
Better phones. Longer range cars. Electric trucks.
For over a decade, we knew silicon could enhance battery capacity.
* Theoretical specific capacity is nearly ten times higher than that of the currently dominant graphite anode.
November 24, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Battery improvements are in the media daily.
Better phones. Longer range cars. Electric trucks.
For over a decade, we knew silicon could enhance battery capacity.
* Theoretical specific capacity is nearly ten times higher than that of the currently dominant graphite anode.
Better phones. Longer range cars. Electric trucks.
For over a decade, we knew silicon could enhance battery capacity.
* Theoretical specific capacity is nearly ten times higher than that of the currently dominant graphite anode.
Geologic hydrogen or gold, clear, or orange hydrogen naturally occurs underground. It could be this H2 is a clean and cheap source of energy. Not so fast.
* H2 is an indirect green house gas. The hydrogen molecule is small, and leaks. Pipes. Storage. Transporting.
* H2 is an indirect green house gas. The hydrogen molecule is small, and leaks. Pipes. Storage. Transporting.
November 22, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Geologic hydrogen or gold, clear, or orange hydrogen naturally occurs underground. It could be this H2 is a clean and cheap source of energy. Not so fast.
* H2 is an indirect green house gas. The hydrogen molecule is small, and leaks. Pipes. Storage. Transporting.
* H2 is an indirect green house gas. The hydrogen molecule is small, and leaks. Pipes. Storage. Transporting.
We think AI is writing better emails
But medical clinical trials can be improved five times, saving billions
When you consider that getting a drug to market costs $2.4 billion and takes 5 years.
Within a decade, we will have improved AI impacts across all parts of the health industry.
But medical clinical trials can be improved five times, saving billions
When you consider that getting a drug to market costs $2.4 billion and takes 5 years.
Within a decade, we will have improved AI impacts across all parts of the health industry.
November 17, 2025 at 9:01 PM
We think AI is writing better emails
But medical clinical trials can be improved five times, saving billions
When you consider that getting a drug to market costs $2.4 billion and takes 5 years.
Within a decade, we will have improved AI impacts across all parts of the health industry.
But medical clinical trials can be improved five times, saving billions
When you consider that getting a drug to market costs $2.4 billion and takes 5 years.
Within a decade, we will have improved AI impacts across all parts of the health industry.
The return on investment for drugs is reportedly a poor 4% compounded return. Current costs for drug discovery is $2.4 billion to get a new drug on the market, and it takes 14 years. Means the company needs to sell at least $600 million each year at peak for the remainder of the drug patent life.
November 15, 2025 at 9:01 PM
The return on investment for drugs is reportedly a poor 4% compounded return. Current costs for drug discovery is $2.4 billion to get a new drug on the market, and it takes 14 years. Means the company needs to sell at least $600 million each year at peak for the remainder of the drug patent life.
If you want to listen to two experts in energy, don't miss Michael Liebreich and Lord Adair Turner's reflections on the past 20 years of the energy transition. In the early 2000s, no one knew how the world would decarbonise. Today, wind solar and batteries will provide 95% plus.
November 10, 2025 at 9:02 PM
If you want to listen to two experts in energy, don't miss Michael Liebreich and Lord Adair Turner's reflections on the past 20 years of the energy transition. In the early 2000s, no one knew how the world would decarbonise. Today, wind solar and batteries will provide 95% plus.
There's many dumb announcments recently, especilly in the health and energy sectors in USA.
Has Covid Lowered the IQ of people?
Covid spike protein damages the brain and reduces IQ. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein accumulates and persists in the body for years after infection. People get brain fog.
Has Covid Lowered the IQ of people?
Covid spike protein damages the brain and reduces IQ. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein accumulates and persists in the body for years after infection. People get brain fog.
November 8, 2025 at 9:00 PM
There's many dumb announcments recently, especilly in the health and energy sectors in USA.
Has Covid Lowered the IQ of people?
Covid spike protein damages the brain and reduces IQ. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein accumulates and persists in the body for years after infection. People get brain fog.
Has Covid Lowered the IQ of people?
Covid spike protein damages the brain and reduces IQ. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein accumulates and persists in the body for years after infection. People get brain fog.
Are you older? Should you take statins and other similar drugs?
Stroke remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with older adults, particularly those over age 60, at the highest risk of first-time ischemic stroke.
Stroke remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with older adults, particularly those over age 60, at the highest risk of first-time ischemic stroke.
November 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Are you older? Should you take statins and other similar drugs?
Stroke remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with older adults, particularly those over age 60, at the highest risk of first-time ischemic stroke.
Stroke remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with older adults, particularly those over age 60, at the highest risk of first-time ischemic stroke.
Cleaning Up podcast with , Professor Tristan Smith, a leading expert on shipping decarbonisation from UCL Energy Institute.
Fundamental is LNG use is going to drop.
The USA WH is repayment of the $90 million in election donation by gas industry.
www.cleaningup.live/the-us-just-...
Fundamental is LNG use is going to drop.
The USA WH is repayment of the $90 million in election donation by gas industry.
www.cleaningup.live/the-us-just-...
November 3, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Cleaning Up podcast with , Professor Tristan Smith, a leading expert on shipping decarbonisation from UCL Energy Institute.
Fundamental is LNG use is going to drop.
The USA WH is repayment of the $90 million in election donation by gas industry.
www.cleaningup.live/the-us-just-...
Fundamental is LNG use is going to drop.
The USA WH is repayment of the $90 million in election donation by gas industry.
www.cleaningup.live/the-us-just-...
Whatever you think of COVID, of its origins, or whether serious or not, one in eight people have long COVID impacts. Long COVID is described as post-infection symptoms persisting for at least a month. Long COVID has been part of the infection right from the beginning.
November 1, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Whatever you think of COVID, of its origins, or whether serious or not, one in eight people have long COVID impacts. Long COVID is described as post-infection symptoms persisting for at least a month. Long COVID has been part of the infection right from the beginning.
If you thought the world built a lot of renewables in the past few years, just wait for the next half of this decade.
Solar is expected to double the past 5 years' growth.
Incumbent analysts often get projections wrong.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
Solar is expected to double the past 5 years' growth.
Incumbent analysts often get projections wrong.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
October 27, 2025 at 9:02 PM
If you thought the world built a lot of renewables in the past few years, just wait for the next half of this decade.
Solar is expected to double the past 5 years' growth.
Incumbent analysts often get projections wrong.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
Solar is expected to double the past 5 years' growth.
Incumbent analysts often get projections wrong.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
The Human Cell Atlas (HCA) is will catalogue every cell type within a human being. Daunting project considering the human body is over 37 trillion cells. The task of decoding their roles and charting their locations involves approximately 4,000 researchers working in 190 labs across 102 nations.
October 25, 2025 at 9:01 PM
The Human Cell Atlas (HCA) is will catalogue every cell type within a human being. Daunting project considering the human body is over 37 trillion cells. The task of decoding their roles and charting their locations involves approximately 4,000 researchers working in 190 labs across 102 nations.
While "gamechanger" is a common cliche. Sometimes announcements come along worthy of the word.
In April, CATL, the worlds largest battery manufacturer announced
* A range of 520 kilometers (km) with a five-minute charge
* Can go from 5% to 80% charge in 15 minutes in cold weather.
In April, CATL, the worlds largest battery manufacturer announced
* A range of 520 kilometers (km) with a five-minute charge
* Can go from 5% to 80% charge in 15 minutes in cold weather.
October 20, 2025 at 9:02 PM
While "gamechanger" is a common cliche. Sometimes announcements come along worthy of the word.
In April, CATL, the worlds largest battery manufacturer announced
* A range of 520 kilometers (km) with a five-minute charge
* Can go from 5% to 80% charge in 15 minutes in cold weather.
In April, CATL, the worlds largest battery manufacturer announced
* A range of 520 kilometers (km) with a five-minute charge
* Can go from 5% to 80% charge in 15 minutes in cold weather.
Mistrust in science has been on the rise for decades.
- This growing mistrust is primarily fueled by political polarisation.
- It's amplified by partisan media and social media algorithms.
- The spread of misinformation contributes to the lack of trust.
/1
- This growing mistrust is primarily fueled by political polarisation.
- It's amplified by partisan media and social media algorithms.
- The spread of misinformation contributes to the lack of trust.
/1
October 18, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Mistrust in science has been on the rise for decades.
- This growing mistrust is primarily fueled by political polarisation.
- It's amplified by partisan media and social media algorithms.
- The spread of misinformation contributes to the lack of trust.
/1
- This growing mistrust is primarily fueled by political polarisation.
- It's amplified by partisan media and social media algorithms.
- The spread of misinformation contributes to the lack of trust.
/1
Mega batteries are unlocking the energy revolution.
The electricity system is the largest commodity supply chain in the world that doesn’t feature storage. Every technology benefits from storage. The top 1% of peak hours are 8% of your bill. The top 10% of hours are 40% of your bill.
The electricity system is the largest commodity supply chain in the world that doesn’t feature storage. Every technology benefits from storage. The top 1% of peak hours are 8% of your bill. The top 10% of hours are 40% of your bill.
October 14, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Mega batteries are unlocking the energy revolution.
The electricity system is the largest commodity supply chain in the world that doesn’t feature storage. Every technology benefits from storage. The top 1% of peak hours are 8% of your bill. The top 10% of hours are 40% of your bill.
The electricity system is the largest commodity supply chain in the world that doesn’t feature storage. Every technology benefits from storage. The top 1% of peak hours are 8% of your bill. The top 10% of hours are 40% of your bill.
Not many are talking about what happens as houses change from gas to electricity. Saving big. But what happens to all those existing pipelines? Will the companies try to get consumers to pay?
optimisticstorm.com/stranded-gas...
optimisticstorm.com/stranded-gas...
October 13, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Not many are talking about what happens as houses change from gas to electricity. Saving big. But what happens to all those existing pipelines? Will the companies try to get consumers to pay?
optimisticstorm.com/stranded-gas...
optimisticstorm.com/stranded-gas...
How much land is needed by solar to power the world?
Golf courses use more land than solar power.
Australia, about 0.016% of land area (About 1 hundredth of one per cent).
interactive.carbonbrief.org/factcheck/so...
In my book OptimisticStorm.com Part 1 - The End of the Fossil Fuel era.
Golf courses use more land than solar power.
Australia, about 0.016% of land area (About 1 hundredth of one per cent).
interactive.carbonbrief.org/factcheck/so...
In my book OptimisticStorm.com Part 1 - The End of the Fossil Fuel era.
October 11, 2025 at 9:01 PM
How much land is needed by solar to power the world?
Golf courses use more land than solar power.
Australia, about 0.016% of land area (About 1 hundredth of one per cent).
interactive.carbonbrief.org/factcheck/so...
In my book OptimisticStorm.com Part 1 - The End of the Fossil Fuel era.
Golf courses use more land than solar power.
Australia, about 0.016% of land area (About 1 hundredth of one per cent).
interactive.carbonbrief.org/factcheck/so...
In my book OptimisticStorm.com Part 1 - The End of the Fossil Fuel era.
Who is right for reduction in oil over next 5 years.
* Oil for plastics feedstock
* Oil for transport.
IEA, in their Oil Report www.iea.org/reports/oil-... show little change by 2030.
* Oil for plastics feedstock
* Oil for transport.
IEA, in their Oil Report www.iea.org/reports/oil-... show little change by 2030.
October 6, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Who is right for reduction in oil over next 5 years.
* Oil for plastics feedstock
* Oil for transport.
IEA, in their Oil Report www.iea.org/reports/oil-... show little change by 2030.
* Oil for plastics feedstock
* Oil for transport.
IEA, in their Oil Report www.iea.org/reports/oil-... show little change by 2030.
Despite orders from the White House forcing coal plants to stay open, coal plant retirements in the U.S. are projected to be higher in 2025 than 2024! Coal plants are simply old, dirty, and very expensive.
October 5, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Despite orders from the White House forcing coal plants to stay open, coal plant retirements in the U.S. are projected to be higher in 2025 than 2024! Coal plants are simply old, dirty, and very expensive.
Cyclists. Write to your politicians.
Tax breaks for huge, American-style utes costs Australians over $250m It is 1/10th of money spent on the Federal Government’s Active Transport Fund for the construction and upgrade of cycle paths every year.
australiainstitute.org.au/post/big-ute...
Tax breaks for huge, American-style utes costs Australians over $250m It is 1/10th of money spent on the Federal Government’s Active Transport Fund for the construction and upgrade of cycle paths every year.
australiainstitute.org.au/post/big-ute...
October 4, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Cyclists. Write to your politicians.
Tax breaks for huge, American-style utes costs Australians over $250m It is 1/10th of money spent on the Federal Government’s Active Transport Fund for the construction and upgrade of cycle paths every year.
australiainstitute.org.au/post/big-ute...
Tax breaks for huge, American-style utes costs Australians over $250m It is 1/10th of money spent on the Federal Government’s Active Transport Fund for the construction and upgrade of cycle paths every year.
australiainstitute.org.au/post/big-ute...
Plastic water bottles are killing us.
Says the latest meta study - no new research, just compiling 141 previous papers.
Microplastics (1 µm to 5 mm) and nanoplastics (less than 1 µm) have raised alarms about their harmful effects on human health. Nanoplastics are especially hazardous.
Says the latest meta study - no new research, just compiling 141 previous papers.
Microplastics (1 µm to 5 mm) and nanoplastics (less than 1 µm) have raised alarms about their harmful effects on human health. Nanoplastics are especially hazardous.
October 1, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Plastic water bottles are killing us.
Says the latest meta study - no new research, just compiling 141 previous papers.
Microplastics (1 µm to 5 mm) and nanoplastics (less than 1 µm) have raised alarms about their harmful effects on human health. Nanoplastics are especially hazardous.
Says the latest meta study - no new research, just compiling 141 previous papers.
Microplastics (1 µm to 5 mm) and nanoplastics (less than 1 µm) have raised alarms about their harmful effects on human health. Nanoplastics are especially hazardous.
An American Lung Association report calculates that changing from industrial combustion boilers to industrial-scale heat pumps across USA.
* Save over $1.1 trillion in health costs.
* Prevent 77,200 air pollution deaths by 2050.
* Avoiding 33 million asthma attacks
* 13 million lost school days
* Save over $1.1 trillion in health costs.
* Prevent 77,200 air pollution deaths by 2050.
* Avoiding 33 million asthma attacks
* 13 million lost school days
September 29, 2025 at 9:01 PM
An American Lung Association report calculates that changing from industrial combustion boilers to industrial-scale heat pumps across USA.
* Save over $1.1 trillion in health costs.
* Prevent 77,200 air pollution deaths by 2050.
* Avoiding 33 million asthma attacks
* 13 million lost school days
* Save over $1.1 trillion in health costs.
* Prevent 77,200 air pollution deaths by 2050.
* Avoiding 33 million asthma attacks
* 13 million lost school days
In a UN speech, President Trump said that "all of these [climate] predictions were wrong".
[Fact check by Zeke Hausfather (@hausfath led)]
Zeke in 2019 did a research effort to digitize old climate model projections and assess how well they did. Turns out they got future warming pretty spot on!
[Fact check by Zeke Hausfather (@hausfath led)]
Zeke in 2019 did a research effort to digitize old climate model projections and assess how well they did. Turns out they got future warming pretty spot on!
September 27, 2025 at 9:00 PM
In a UN speech, President Trump said that "all of these [climate] predictions were wrong".
[Fact check by Zeke Hausfather (@hausfath led)]
Zeke in 2019 did a research effort to digitize old climate model projections and assess how well they did. Turns out they got future warming pretty spot on!
[Fact check by Zeke Hausfather (@hausfath led)]
Zeke in 2019 did a research effort to digitize old climate model projections and assess how well they did. Turns out they got future warming pretty spot on!
Elon Musk said in Jul 2025, Tesla will have "personal public transport" aka "robotaxis" providing services to half of the USA population by the end of 2025. How is it going?
Will Tesla make it?
Ernest Hemingway was asked how he went bankrupt. "2 ways. Gradually, and then suddenly"
Will Tesla make it?
Ernest Hemingway was asked how he went bankrupt. "2 ways. Gradually, and then suddenly"
September 24, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Elon Musk said in Jul 2025, Tesla will have "personal public transport" aka "robotaxis" providing services to half of the USA population by the end of 2025. How is it going?
Will Tesla make it?
Ernest Hemingway was asked how he went bankrupt. "2 ways. Gradually, and then suddenly"
Will Tesla make it?
Ernest Hemingway was asked how he went bankrupt. "2 ways. Gradually, and then suddenly"
Are climate delayers getting more active? Certainly in the USA oil and gas lobby who paid $96 million to Trump's campaign and affiliated political action committees. Climate obstruction in different industries is more coordinated than is generally recognised.
September 24, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Are climate delayers getting more active? Certainly in the USA oil and gas lobby who paid $96 million to Trump's campaign and affiliated political action committees. Climate obstruction in different industries is more coordinated than is generally recognised.
Carrying capacity? How does the Earth support its 8 billion people and the other fauna and flora. Too many people?
Population peaks ~9 billion. Decline ~6-7 billion by 2100.
We look at plunging birthrates, lower child mortality and increased life expectancy. in optimisticstorm.com
Population peaks ~9 billion. Decline ~6-7 billion by 2100.
We look at plunging birthrates, lower child mortality and increased life expectancy. in optimisticstorm.com
September 22, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Carrying capacity? How does the Earth support its 8 billion people and the other fauna and flora. Too many people?
Population peaks ~9 billion. Decline ~6-7 billion by 2100.
We look at plunging birthrates, lower child mortality and increased life expectancy. in optimisticstorm.com
Population peaks ~9 billion. Decline ~6-7 billion by 2100.
We look at plunging birthrates, lower child mortality and increased life expectancy. in optimisticstorm.com